UK coins
The 2025 Mary Poppins 50p is practically perfect in every way!
Mary Poppins, one of the best loved literary characters of all time has been celebrated on the 2025 Mary Poppins 50p – 91 years since the first book was published!
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A supercalifragilisticexpialidocious design
The reverse design on the 2025 Mary Poppins 50p features an original illustration by Mary Shepard that appeared on the cover of the first book in P.L. Travers’ eight book series. Mary Poppins can be seen soaring over the rooftops, umbrella in one hand, trusty carpetbag in the other, an image that perfectly captures the magic of the beloved story.
Did you know? Mary Poppins illustrator Mary Shepard was the daughter of E.H. Shepard who illustrated Winnie the Pooh and The Wind in the Willows. P.L. Travers originally wanted E.H. Shepard to provide the illustrations for her stories, however he declined as he was too busy, it was only after receiving a Christmas card featuring artwork by Mary Shepard that Travers felt her whimsical style would be suited to her vision for Poppins.
Over 90 Years of Magic
After blowing in on an east wind and arriving at 17 Cherry Tree Lane, Mary Poppins gets to work taking care of the Banks children, teaching them fun and valuable life lessons – with a little bit of magic thrown in.
Image Credit: Disney trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Since the first book was published in 1934, the Mary Poppins stories have captured the imaginations of both children and adults across the globe, gaining further popularity in 1964 with the Disney film adaptation of the story.
Julie Andrews brought the beloved literary character to life in the original 1964 film adaptation, however Poppins has been portrayed countless times in film and theatre since.
Who’s portrayal of Mary Poppins is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!
Other literary icons on UK coins
Mary Poppins isn’t the first literary character to feature on a UK coin, we’ve previously seen the likes of Lucy Pevensie and Mr Tumnus strolling through Narnia on the 2023 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 50p, Paddington Bear travelling around London on the 2018 and 2019 Paddington 50p series and of course, the Gruffalo on the sell-out 2019 coins and the 2024 Gruffalo’s Child 50p.
Peter Rabbit and other beloved characters from Beatrix Potter’s enchanting tales featured on UK coins between 2016 and 2020. Thirteen Beatrix Potter 50ps were issued between 2016 and 2018, each featuring beloved characters from Potter’s enchanting tales. All of these coins entered circulation, however a further 2 Peter Rabbit 50ps were issued in 2019 and 2020 which did not enter circulation.
And not to be forgotten is the 9-coin Winnie the Pooh 50p series which feature original illustrations from A. A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh storybooks by none other than E.H. Shepard!
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Add the 2025 UK Mary Poppins 50p to your collection for just £8.99 (+p&p) >>
A Red Arrows display like no other – The 2025 Red Arrows 50p!
Speed. Agility. Precision…these are all hallmarks of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team—better known as the Red Arrows. And to mark 60 years since their first display, the Red Arrows are being celebrated on a UK 50p!
A breath taking display
This is the first time the Red Arrows have featured on a UK coin, and the design perfectly represents their inspiring and captivating displays which are loved by so many. On the reverse of the coin, graphic designer Nigel Tudman has created a depiction of three sleek and distinctive BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft and their smoke trails.
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60 Years of ‘The Reds’
The Red Arrows, often affectionately nicknamed ‘The Reds’ by fans, represent the very best of the Royal Air Force. Since their debut display in 1965, the team has wowed audiences worldwide with their breath taking displays across 57 countries with nearly 5,000 shows, making them a global symbol of excellence.
Becoming a Red Arrows pilot is no easy feat though, as each member of the team must undergo a series of rigorous tests and fit the eligibility criteria before they’re selected. This includes having done a tour on the frontline and having at least 1,500 hours of fast jet flying under your belt, which can take 10-12 years to acquire!
Not to be forgotten though are The Blues, the Red Arrows’ hardworking and dedicated ground engineering crew. The Blues consist of mechanical technicians, avionics technicians, weapon technicians and the dye team, to name just a few! The dye team are responsible for the iconic coloured vapour trails you see during Red Arrows displays, a crucial part of the viewing experience.
We had the honour of meeting the dye team at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2024, where we got a close up look at a Hawk T1!
Previous aviation coins
Although this is the first time the Red Arrows have featured on a UK coin, it’s not the first time we’ve seen military aircraft on UK coins.
In 2017, to mark the centenary of the First World War, the First World War Aviation £2 was issued as the fourth coin in The Royal Mint’s 5-coin series commemorating the First World War from outbreak to armistice. With a design featuring a pilot and an airman taking photographs of the ground below, this coin paid tribute to The Royal Flying Corp and the role they undertook to protect the skies over Great Britain from the enemy.
The following year, in 2018, The Royal Mint issued a 5-coin £2 series to celebrate the centenary of the RAF. Featuring on the coins in the series was the RAF Badge, the Vulcan, the Sea King Helicopter, the Lightning II and of course, the RAF’s most iconic aircraft – the Spitfire.
Although none of these coins entered circulation, they proved incredibly popular with collectors, and in a poll in 2018, the Sea King £2 was voted as Change Checkers’ favourite design from the series!
Secure the 2025 Red Arrows 50p
Add the 2025 UK Red Arrows 50p to your collection for just £8.99 (+p&p) >>
The 2025 George Orwell £2 is watching you…
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
You might recognise this motto from the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984), perhaps one of George Orwell’s best known works. And if you’re a fan of Orwell’s stories, you’ll be delighted to hear that a UK £2 coin has been issued to celebrate his life and works.
An ‘eye’ for detail
The 2025 UK George Orwell £2 has been issued 75 years after the passing of English novelist, poet, journalist and social critic, Eric Arthur Blair – better known by his pen name George Orwell.
The reverse design, created by Henry Gray in collaboration with the Orwell Foundation, features an illustration of an eye in reference to the all-seeing Big Brother from Orwell’s final novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the centre of the eye is a camera lens surrounded by the iconic tagline “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”, and yet another famous quote from the story, “THERE WAS TRUTH AND THERE WAS UNTRUTH”, serves as the coin’s edge inscription.
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Other works
During his life, Orwell penned several novels including Animal Farm, A Clergyman’s Daughter and Keep the Aspidistra Flying, as well as three nonfiction works, and he was even named the second-greatest British writer since 1945 by The Times in 2008, second only to Philip Larkin.
Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
However, his 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four remains one of the most influential books in popular and political culture, with many words and phrases from the story becoming part of the English language.
Previous UK coins issued to celebrate British literature and legendary writers have proven incredibly popular with collectors. We’ve seen the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, H.G. Wells, Mary Shelley and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle feature on UK coins in recent years, and George Orwell is a welcome addition.
Secure your 2025 UK George Orwell £2
Secure the 2025 UK George Orwell £2 for just £9.99 (+p&p) >>